I live just three miles from Red Wing Lake GC in Va. Beach, one of Cobb’s numerous muni designs, and have played many rounds on it over the last 30 years. It opened in the early 1970s and received a much needed renovation about three years ago from Kevin Tucker.

The routing was preserved, but most of the character was stripped from the course, not all of it KT’s fault. With a mandate to reduce maintenance costs and speed play, nearly all of the 70+ bunkers were removed (less than a dozen remain) and monotonous containment mounds were installed in landing areas and around the green complexes.

On the plus side, the new irrigation and drainage systems, coupled with raising the grade of the fairways, has dramatically improved playing conditions. New, multiple tee boxes provide options for players of all abilities and the new USGA-spec greens with a 50/50 mix of A-1 and A-4 bentgrass are a tremendous improvement over the old, frequently waterlogged and disease-prone putting surfaces.

So, when it comes to renovations, paraphrasing the Rolling Stones, “You can’t always get what you want.” But at least there’s still a golf course there to play.

BTW, Andy: I lived in the DC area in ‘78 and ‘79 and was just picking up the game. I played Glenn Dale a number of times and learned a valuable lesson about betting there one day from wiry old retiree with a mismatched set of clubs in a tattered canvas bag that he dragged behind him on pullcart.

If you are in this area and are a Cobb fan make sure to play Glenn Dale–its not top 100 material in any way but has a number of fun, interesting holes. I think it easily the most under-rated course in the area.